Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-27

The rude audience were impressed Just as
| was. and respectfully retrained from any
"guying" of the lady.
As the play proceeded | became aware
that my companion was becoming deeply
interested in it, He bent forward and
kept his eyes fixed on the stage. Once
or twice | whispered to him. but he made
no reply. From this time his attention
never tagged till the curtain was finally
rung down. Then, amid the boisterOus
stamping, clapping and unearthly catcalls
that summoned the Barbarian and his
bride before the curtain, Mr.. Rawlinson
shouted in my ear:
where do these actors stay ?"
.'At the Windsor, believe"
Come and show me "
w.
The exit to the street was narrow and
unlighted, so that the performers had
reached their quarters by the back passage
some time before we could get there Mr.
Rawlinson called for the manager of the
troupe, and a gross-looking man in velvet
cen, with profusion OF jewelry, came to
the sitting room.
Il have business with your leading lady
Miss Deveraux," said Mr.. Rawlinson,
quietly, referring to the play-bill. "Can
see her?"
The manager was plainly no gentleman
! himself, but he knew one when he saw
him. Something in the manner of the
other impressed him.
That's Ned Blacks wife," he said
"The fact isl the manager laughed, Med
is as Jealous as fool, and makes all kinds
of rows in the company. I'll speak to
him"
Three minutes after the Ingomar of
half an hour before entered The interval
between the stage and the real one had
| been q briet one; but not too hriet to allow
Mr. Blake to become decidedly drunk
His eyes were bloodshot, his tongue thick,
his gate uncertain.
'Wha you want O. my wife," he
clustered At the sight of Mr. Rawlinson
his legs and his voice abruptly paused.
II want Ethel-not you. Send her
here"
He left the room at once. When he next
entered he was following Parthenia in
diffident way.
With the paint and powder removed
she was still handsome woman of thirty,
pale and thin, with great speaking eyes
which at once made me understand the
chief charm Of her stage presence.
She saw Mr.. Rawlinson; she gave a
cry and started toward him with open
arms.
40. father!n
"Waitr'
He stood with his arms folded She
paused. He spoke very gently out firmly.
as had never heard him speak.
! al wont IN taLp Won hanlr NV oh; "a
my heart is hungry for you. But You
must leave this worthless creature. VIII
you?"
She looked from father to husband The
struggle was fierce but brief She went
to Blake as he leaned against the wall and
| clasped her hands on his sholders
''TIe is NV husband" she simply said.
| "Strike the old man for money!" |
| plainly heard from MIN, in sepulchral
whisper.
/ John Rawlinson groaned as he left the
room and the house, looking neither to
the right or left, followed him in ST.
/ lence. As | strobe on, and as | bestrred
myself to overtake him, shout followed
US. looked back and saw Edward Blake
1 lurching heavily along.
Cant You do something for a fellow,
o Mr.. RawlsP' he hiccoughed. Say a
/ fifty-or-or--"
Something like an oath came from the
man addressed, as he disappeared in the
1 darkness.
He had already gone up to his room
when | reached the hotel, and | did not
disturb him-as, indeed, had no excuse
( to do SO. He came down to breakfast
the next morning, looking as stolid and
impressive as usual But the bootblack
told me atterward that as he made his
rounds very early, he heard somebody in
room Il walking the floor and grooming.
Two men sitting opposite US conversed
so loudly that we heard all they said
Hear the play, last night ?''
/ Yes. | reckon the atterpiece was
rather better"
( "Aiterpiece9 There wasn't anv?"
Iii happened over at the Windsor, where
the actors stop. the leading man is
drunken brute; the woman with the fine
figure and eyes is his wife. 1t appears
her father, some rich old hunks, hunted
her up, ard wanted her to come back
home to him. She wouldn't leave her
husband--iust like woman and he got
& ihNo Il HlubhNA Ad-G bCCdu>t Sut WbNluQ
strike the old man for money. He chased
her through the hall. and tell down stairs.
The scouudrel broke his neck-and it serv-
ed him right.
Kill him 20
Yes"
With pale and rigid face Mr.. Rawlinson
rose from the table. He looked toward
me. understood it. We walked over to
the Windsor without word. In the room
where had left her the night before we
found Ethel Blake, sitting by her worth
less clay, as it waited for the coffin. She
saw her father, and this time she fell up
on his breast, saw there what I would